Bachelors and Masters in Health Management and Administration in Connecticut

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those working in Connecticut’s healthcare administration and management field earned an average salary of $117,680 as of 2014. This is a rapidly expanding field nationwide, and there is no indication that it will slow down anytime soon. In fact, the Connecticut Department of Labor estimates that the number of jobs for health administrators and health services managers in the state will increase by 19 percent during the period spanning 2012-2022.

State officials have reported that since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, the number of uninsured Connecticut residents has been cut in half. As of 2014, less than 4 percent of the state’s population goes without health insurance coverage. As this is expected to place a greater demand on the state’s healthcare system than it has ever experienced, the sector has been expanding and increasing staff to accommodate the growing need for health services in the state.

This has been a significant factor contributing to new opportunities for administrative professionals in the healthcare sector, while also making more room for career mobility as experienced administrators vey for director and executive level jobs.

Earning a Health Administration Degree in Connecticut

Those seeking a degree in healthcare administration, whether undergraduate or graduate, will find that Connecticut has much to offer. With on-campus programs as well as flexible online programs, there are options available designed to meet each student’s individual needs.

Undergraduate Degrees in Health Administration and Management

For those interested in a health administration career, a bachelor’s degree is a good starting point. There are currently two types of undergraduate degrees available to Connecticut students pursuing undergraduate study in health administration:

Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration (BBA)

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration or Management (BS)

On average, undergraduate programs consist of 120 credits. Students are typically able to complete these degrees in four years, with the first two consisting of a general education core. Once the general education courses are complete, students are able to take the upper-level courses that are more specific to the healthcare administration field. Courses usually cover topics such as financial management, human resources, healthcare law, and various other healthcare-specific issues.

Graduate Degrees in Health Administration

Having a graduate degree in health administration is generally recognized as essential for those pursuing executive-level administration jobs in the healthcare industry. Students seeking graduate degrees in Connecticut have a range of programs to choose from:

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Administration

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)

Graduate Program Admission Criteria

Though standards may vary from school to school, many graduate programs commonly have the following criteria in place for admission into their programs:

A minimum GPA requirement

Letters of recommendation from superiors

A completed bachelor’s degree

Application essay or statement of purpose

Professional experience in the healthcare field

Graduate Program Outline

Most graduate programs are made up of between 36-60 credit hours. Depending on how much a student is able to take on per semester, these programs typically can be completed in 18-24 months. Many students are required to complete a capstone project or research thesis at the end of their program.

Graduate level courses typically cover the following core topics:

Compliancy to federal and state healthcare regulations

Healthcare data analysis

Successful management strategies

Healthcare economics

Financial management in the healthcare field

Decision making

Community health studies

In addition to the many online programs available for graduate studies, there are healthcare administration graduate programs available at campus locations in the following cities:

Danbury

Storrs

West Haven

New Haven

Trumbell

Fairfield

Hamden

Healthcare Administration Jobs in Connecticut

The following job descriptions have been pulled from medical institution hiring advertisements across the state. This list serves to give examples of what employers expect from applicants as far as education and experience level for these various types of jobs (These examples are shown for illustrative purposes only, and should not be interpreted as job offers or a guarantee of employment.):

Yale-New Haven Hospital

Associate Director of Reappointment – Ensures correct credentialing of medical staff, attends medical board and quality committee meetings, various other administrative functions; bachelor’s degree in business or health administration is required, as well as 3-5 years of experience in medical credentialing.

Manager of Business Operations – Oversees business operations including financial reports, invoices, managing employees and subcontractors, hiring and management of staff; master’s degree in business or health administration is required, plus at least 5 years of experience in a management role.

Bridgeport Hospital

Clinical Program Manager – Supervises all clinical operations including fiscal management, human resources, and organizational leadership of the hospital staff; bachelor’s degree is required, master’s degree is strongly preferred as well as 8-10 years of experience in a medical environment.

Hartford Hospital

Medical Administrative Associate – Provides administrative support to hospital management team, schedules appointments, assists with the billing of patients, and provides general customer services to patients; bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience in an administrative role is preferred.

Top Employers and Professional Resources for Healthcare Administrators in Connecticut

Healthcare Administrators and Managers in Connecticut have access to a number of professional resources. These institutions and associations provide support, training opportunities, and potential employment for those in the healthcare administration field.

Connecticut’s Largest Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers